What exactly is happening with AstraZeneca?

DaSilva

What is happening with the dose interval with AZ for younger people?

I know some are registering now and being told AZ is on offer and they may receive it sooner than if they choose to wait for another vaccine. The HSE vaccine website says "You should get your second dose 4 to 12 weeks after your first dose.", but that doesn't really seem like any kind of guarantee when it will be received. I just know some younger people who are considering taking the AZ vaccine with the hope that they might be fully vaccinated sooner than waiting for another vaccine, but if they end up on a 12 week interval that might not be the case at all.

If anyone knows some more detail or experience that would be great to share

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117619852#Comment_117619852

The policy as I understood it has been changed to 4 weeks interval between doses

Still having 12 weeks as even a possibility on the HSE site seems out of kilter to me

astrofool

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117619880#Comment_117619880

I think that's still there for the second doses currently being administered (and will hopefully be finished by next week). The new interval is 4 weeks (give or take a few days).

Bass Reeves

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117619852#Comment_117619852

I got AZ as a first dose the 12th May and my second dose the 9th July , eight weeks and a few days between doses. At the time they were predicting up to 16 weeks between doses. Its the same now hey are saying 4-16 weeks. I say you could lay the house that most people opting for AZ will get second dose in 4-6 weeks. However as dealing with COVID is a fluid situation the HSE are covering eventualities in case they may need to give mRNA as second shots. I would not be surprised if those hat got AZ as first shot in younger age cohort got mRNA as booster shot.

We have been here before with people predicting that we fail in January with the nslowness of he process at the start, we had it with AZ failing to deliver that we would not get enough vaccination. There was predictions hat U30's would get no vaccination before Oct/Nov.

people should stop trying to double think he process. AZ can be boosted up beyond 16 weeks HSE is just keeping its option open unless other data comes to light that may need them to change there plans. If AZ is available it up to people to make there own decision. I would not be worrying about upper limits but look at lower limits.

I got my digital Covid cert during the week

robinph

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117615421#Comment_117615421

Not sure about the other locations, but the Malta restrictions was changed within a couple of hours of being announced and they didn't care about where it was manufactured.

Furze99

https://boards.ie/discussion/comment/117623227#Comment_117623227

Good for you Bass. I too followed government advice and got AZ early May and was scheduled for second dose in July... but got Covid first in early July. Unlucky of course, but if I were a little younger or a few years older, I and you would have been fully vaccinated in early/ mid June. Have several younger siblings/ cousins/ friends in 40s and 50s, all doubly vaccinated by the time Covid caught me up.

As things stand, will now have to wait to get some Covid cert based on recovery. Can't see any point in a second AZ jab. Likely all recipients of AZ will be lined up again before Christmas for an mRNA vaccine. They'll call it a booster but in reality it's what they should have done in the first place.

RobMc59

FishOnABike

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117636523#Comment_117636523

The CoViD cert based on recovery is only valid for 180 days. Completing the two vaccine course would give you an open ended certificate.

Furze99

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117661076#Comment_117661076

I noticed that but wherein lies the sense? Is that to imply that antibodies gained from a vaccine are superior to those developed from an actual bout of the virus?

BonnieSituation

I think it's for clarity reasons and to encourage vaccination.

You could spend more time arguing your point or you could just get the second jab. Seems the way forward for me for those in your shoes.

brickster69

A good article

https://www.politico.eu/article/how-astrazeneca-threw-away-its-shot/

brickster69

Who would believe it ?

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/health/astrazeneca-second-dose-does-not-raise-risk-of-rare-blood-clots-1.4632552

McGiver

So with the adenovirus vaccines, AstraZeneca predominantly, we've so far these side serious effects:

• Thrombocytopenia syndrome (TS) & cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST)
• Capilary Leak Syndrome (CLS)
• Guillain-Barré Syndrome (GBS)

All are serious and have been added to the respective vaccine leaflets. They are recognised by the EMA (and WHO).

On CVST:

Chance clusters of rare events occur quite commonly in observations or analyses of large groups.6 Nevertheless, the balance of evidence was clearly shifting at the beginning of April. Increased reporting of CVST in the UK as well as in Europe, along with the almost total absence of cases after immunisation with Pfizer or Moderna vaccines were strong indicators that this may be a real association. That many of those affected also had thrombocytopenia, which is not normally found in CVST, was an additional pointer that this was not a random association.

It remains to be a mediocre vaccine, all in all, compared to the readily available mRNA technology vaccines.

McGiver

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117672052#Comment_117672052

CVST is officially recognised by the EMA and AZ as a serious side effect and is on the leaflet in black and white.

Any sort of attempt of downplaying this serious side effect is not welcome.

Thrombosis after covid-19 vaccination (bmj.com) - British Medical Journal

McGiver

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117666959#Comment_117666959

Is it good because it confirms your bias of "UK good, EU bad"? 🤔 Or what did you want to say exactly by dumping the link?

is_that_so

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117672899#Comment_117672899

It's actually an interesting article, covers the whole history of it in one place.

brickster69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117674687#Comment_117674687

I thought so, a very balanced article of the way things were.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117672894#Comment_117672894

As is myocarditis in MRNA vaccines.

Every vaccine has side effects, hence why 5-10% of adult population will probably not take any covid vaccine, believing covid will be less severe than any vaccine.

Some might be right, most won't.

Many people who dont want a vaccine have a mistrust of government, are poorly educated and are economically disadvantaged. We have to engage with these people, not post dramatic soundbites on social media.

Nobody has died of AZ vaccine or J&J vaccine in ireland despite millions of doses given out.

Circa 7,000 people have died of covid on this island.

A child a few weeks old in NI is in ICU with covid at present.

Vaccines save lives.

AZ on island of Ireland has probably saved thousands of lives in Ireland in 2021.

Six children and young people under 19 now in NI hospitals with coronavirus - Belfast Live

brickster69

It all seems to be coming out

https://www.euronews.com/next/2021/07/29/astrazeneca-covid-19-vaccine-blood-clot-risk-similar-to-pfizer-spanish-study-finds?utm_source=flipboard&utm_campaign=feeds_health&utm_medium=referral

McGiver

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117675092#Comment_117675092

Sorry but no. Myocarditis is not that serious, it resolves spontaneously in many cases. CVST doesn't at all — it's a life threatening condition.

I see 1 moderatly serious side effect of mRNA vaccines with incidence of 1 in 1,000,000 doses (300 cases in 300M doses).

And then I see 3 very serious side effects of AZ vaccine (adenovirus vector) with incidence of 1 in 100,000, 1 in 200,000 and 1 in 250,000 respectively.

There is a HUGE difference between the two. Downplaying the AZ side effects or comparing them to mRNA is a logical fallacy (and likely a demagoguery).

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117679332#Comment_117679332

19-year-old hospitalized in ICU days after getting second Pfizer vaccine - The Jerusalem Post (jpost.com)

As is blood clots. Blood clot cases in ireland but nobody has died.

Spanish clinicians dont share your social media claims.

Recent spanish study Pfzier/AZ results, both have similar elevated risk of blood clots after first doses. No risk after second.

AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine blood clot risk 'similar' to Pfizer, Spanish study finds | Euronews

All vaccines in EMA are safe and effective.

No absolutes with regards to safety and efficacy for all vaccines.

McGiver

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117679460#Comment_117679460

Nonsense. In black and white. 1 side effect for Pfizer vs several for AZ.

EMA Pfizer safety - 07 Public Safety Update_COMIRNATY_14 July 2021 (europa.eu)

EMA AZ safety - 06 Public Safety Update_VAXZEVRIA_14 July 2021 (europa.eu)

The risk of side effects with AZ is an order of magnitude higher and there are multiple associations already registered and added to the leaflet.

Yes, the vaccine is generally safe but mRNA is an order of magnitude safer.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117679542#Comment_117679542

"the vaccine is generally safe". I will take that😉

brickster69

As 6 million AZ doses sitting in fridges in Germany. Bundestag President Wolfgang Schauble said: "I cannot understand the lack of willingness to get vaccinated, that makes me extremely sad."

They are now giving Pfizer as a second dose following AZ first dose and the young people won't touch it because of the blood clot issue which is ironically the exact same issue that Pfizer has.

odyssey06

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117681384#Comment_117681384

Can you back that up with a reputable study?

Especially one showing that two doses of AZ fares worse against the Delta variant than a single dose of J&J?

And isn't J&J accepted?

brickster69

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117681384#Comment_117681384

Everyone fell for the lies, slowly slowly it will all come to light.

Tippbhoy1

I’ve seen a few articles around this week about how AZ might “have to start charging more” or they’re thinking of getting out of the vaccines. Teeing up John Bull and co to start moving away from their “not for profit” vaccine and charging more as per the original plans, as written in the contracts. AZ get to decide when to declare the pandemic is over and then the price goes up. All going to plan now as they move focus to poorer nations and start flogging boosters to the likes of Boris and co.

It’s been a rough 6 months for them but looks like it’s going to pay off in the long term. Of course this will be sold to the gullible that poor AZ have to make a few quid now after the battering they took, when this was the plan all along. Company handed IP from publicly funded research, no capability of any description, plough along like a bunch of amateurs for a while using the defence of giving it away to cover up their lies and incompetence, eventually get some competence, sell it at a profit to the poor. Brass neck does pay off it seems.

is_that_so

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117681785#Comment_117681785

AZ caused their own problems with the clinical trail data mess-ups and they have not applied for approval in a country where it will probably never be used.

Wolf359f

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117681384#Comment_117681384

The FDA hasn't approved it yet because AZ officially haven't applied. It's due to be applied for in Q2.

As for vaccine passports for entering the US, I highly doubt that will be implemented for various reasons.

Any travel restrictions will be on a country by country basis and not on an individual level based on vaccine status.

If they ever did implement it, and didn't approve AZ (didn't recognize it as a valid for passport purposes), well then there would be vast numbers of Canadiana, Mexicians, Australians, Indians, Europeans etc... who wouldn't be able to visit the US. Not a chance they would ban them.

Wolf359f

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117682108#Comment_117682108

1. Yes banning people from countries is different than banning individuals based on vaccine status. There hasn't been a whiff of this from the US Government.
2. US companies are not the US government. Some US companies are not allowing unvaccined staff back to the office, one is going to lay off any unvacinated staff.... again that's a US company, no sign of the US government following suite. (most they seems to be discussing is unvaccinated federal employees will need to be tested weekly)
3. Sorry I mean H2, second half of the year, not Q2